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Ph.D. Innovation Program

Thayer School offers the nation's first doctoral-level engineering Innovation Program meant to provide Ph.D. graduates with the entrepreneurial training they need to turn research discoveries into marketable applied technologies.

Since 2002, Thayer School PhD candidates have filed over 30 patent applications.

Reflecting Dartmouth's commitment to serving society through engineering, the Innovation Program addresses the nation's growing need for people with both technical and entrepreneurial expertise.

Program graduates will receive an innovation certificate in addition to their Ph.D. degree. Check out our student video testimonials.

Curriculum

The Innovation Program modifies and supplements the doctoral engineering curriculum with entrepreneurial studies, including:

Professors Gerngross and Hutchinson Professors Tillman Gerngross and Charles Hutchinson founded GlycoFi, Inc.
  • new venture creation
  • finance
  • accounting
  • patent law
  • marketing
  • organizational behavior
  • a 3- to 6-month internship in a startup or other entrepreneurial enterprise

See Requirements for the Ph.D. Innovation Program for more details.

Eligibility

New applicants to the Ph.D. program as well as current students in the Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D. programs are eligible to apply. Entering students should send a single PDF file containing the application materials (specified below) to Engineering.Admissions@Dartmouth.edu, and check the appropriate box on the online application form, indicating they are applying. Current students should contact the program director, Dean Joseph Helble, with questions about eligibility.

In the past 10 years, Thayer School students and alumni have been active in 28 start-up companies.

Funding

Financial support in the form of Innovation Fellowships is available for a limited number of students. This funding will cover the costs of student stipend, tuition, and fees, and provide a small annual discretionary fund for research project work.

Under most circumstances, students participating in the Innovation Program will be supported primarily by research assistantships for the first two years of their Ph.D. program enrollment, and then by Innovation Program Fellowships for years 3-5 of their Ph.D. studies. Luce Fellowships for the first two years are available to outstanding female candidates; these provide a travel supplement and allow the student greater freedom in selecting a research group.

Application and Admission

Students are admitted to this track of the Ph.D. program through an additional application.

Applications for the 2009-2010 academic year are due on or before January 1st and should be submitted to Engineering.Admissions@Dartmouth.edu.

Professor Laura Ray Professor Laura Ray co-founded Sound Innovations, Inc.

Applicants to the program should submit the following documents as a single PDF file with the title <****-INNOV>, where **** is replaced by the applicant's last name and initials (e.g., John Q. Doe would submit his file as DoeJQ-INNOV.pdf):

  • A statement (2-page max) describing
    • reasons for interest in innovation
    • why innovation is relevant to your long term career goals
    • an example demonstrating creativity in arriving at a solution
  • A statement (2-page max) describing a broad technology development problem that interests you. This should be written in the general form of a proposal for funding. Note: students who do not yet have a thesis advisor should identify the name(s) of 1 or 2 potential Thayer School faculty advisors for their proposed work.
  • A C.V. (3-page max). Note: candidates who are simultaneously applicants for admission to the Thayer School Ph.D. program may instead elect to have their application materials used to meet this requirement.
  • Currently enrolled Thayer students also need to submit a signed letter of approval from their thesis advisor.
Professor Lynd Professor Lee Lynd co-founded Mascoma Corporation

Admission to this program will be determined by a committee consisting of the Director of Graduate Programs or a faculty appointee, the Dean of the Thayer School or a faculty appointee, and members of the faculty, drawn from those serving on the program Advisory Board. Finalists will be interviewed, either in person or by videoconference, by the selection committee.

To Learn More

Email questions to Engineering.Admissions@Dartmouth.EDU.